A Face To Die For

by Jan Warburton

  *

  Three weeks later I was requested to attend a line-up. They'd caught someone resembling my assailant threatening a woman with a pocketknife. But it wasn't him. I was so disappointed.

  It was Lynda who threw a different slant on it, when we were talking about it the next day.

  'Suppose he was kidnapping you and the children thinking you were Vanessa? She is the daughter of a very wealthy man don't forget. A huge ransom could have been demanded.'

  'Yes, but I told him I wasn't the children's mother.'

  'Ah, but he still had the children, don't forget; just as valuable for bargaining with when it comes to demanding ransom money from a wealthy grandfather.'

  It was a thought I suppose. Vanessa should perhaps be more on her guard. But then, possibly the police had already considered that angle. I had to move on to happier thoughts. This new angle could only start up a whole new bag of worrying worms in my head.

  It so happened that I didn't get the chance to talk it over any more with Vanessa because that night Maria phoned me, inviting me to join her and Gina in Zermatt for a short break. It was a wonderful idea; I couldn't wait to get away.

  *

  The crisp, snowy atmosphere sharpened my mind and made me brighter and more cheerful again. It was fun skiing with Maria. Gina was not too expert however so Maria and I often had to leave her on the lower slopes, struggling a bit.

  Sadly though, it was Maria who ended up one afternoon taking a severe fall, fracturing her wrist and badly twisting her ankle. Unfortunately my fun was somewhat curtailed as I had to then spend more time with Gina, whose company I didn't greatly enjoy. She did however chat more freely to me in Maria's absence.

  During lunch on the lower slopes, drinking cappuccino and munching toasted paninos on our favourite cafe terrace, she asked me about Kate.

  'She have bambino soon, si? Maria say she very sick. She rest much I think, si?' questioned Gina, in her slow, inadequate English, her dark eyes squinting in the sunlight reflecting off the snow. Momentarily she shielded her eyes with her hand before moving to one side with her back to the sun. I kept my goggles on, enjoying the warmth on my face.

  'Yes, poor Kate, it has been a ghastly time for her. It’s not a good pregnancy but Oliver is wonderful to her. She's very lucky to have such a patient and doting husband.'

  'Si, she is. But I think model girls have, how you say... much vanity? She only please herself. Not think of others. She take all she want. She selfish beech, Annabel. You know that?' She gave a disapproving pout.

  Noticing the unpleasant edge in Gina's voice I felt a little uneasy talking about Kate this way. Clearly Gina didn't like her. Loyalty to my friend immediately surfaced.

  'But it’s an impression many models give because of the nature of their work. Their looks are so important to them you see,' I said in defence. 'But Kate isn't a bitch or as selfish as she may appear, and the accident and pregnancy has changed her priorities a lot, particularly now she can no longer model. You would see a great difference in her now, Gina.'

  Gina downed the last of her cappuccino, sighed and shrugged her shoulders. 'Huh, we see. I hope she is good mother.' She then pursed her mouth in an unattractive way and shook her head. 'But I not think she will be. Come, let us go, we must not leave Maria too long. Poor Maria, she so love to ski.'

  I decided that Gina, a well dressed but a rather plain Italian woman, was simply envious of Kate's beauty. However, it troubled me how little compassion the woman showed, particularly after Kate's horrendous accident and in her current pregnant state. Perhaps she blames Kate for Luigi's death? Maybe Maria could enlighten me as to exactly what Gina's problem was?

  Gina and I spent another hour out on the lower slopes before going back down to the chalet where we found Maria on the terrace engrossed in a book.

  Later, while Gina was resting, Maria asked me to do her hair for her because of her fractured wrist. She particularly liked the way I put it up on top in a coil for her. It gave me a golden opportunity to talk to her about Gina's dislike for Kate.

  'Well, I do not think Gina like models much, especially one as beautiful as Kate, because she imagines all men must desire her,' replied Maria.

  One of the chalet maids then came through to discuss dinner requirements and we were forced to curtail the discussion. But that last comment intrigued me. Perhaps Vito had flirted with Kate at his party?

  Once the girl had gone, I grabbed Maria's attention again.

  'Which men, Maria? What upset Gina so much the night of Vito's party?' I carefully modulated my voice so it wouldn't be heard upstairs.

  'All the men's eyes were on her that night. Are you not surprised? She looked sensational.'

  'Was she wearing the crimson silk jersey dress?'

  Maria nodded. 'Yes.'

  'Ah… she would have created quite a stir in that,' I said, knowing it had a long slit at the side and how the fabric tended to cling to the contours of her body. 'But what else upset Gina so? Surely it wasn't just Kate's dress and the fact that all the men were ogling her?'

  'She says that Kate flirted with all men who danced with her. Gina watch Kate's every move that night...' whispered Maria. Suddenly her eyes flashed, indicating we should say no more, as Gina descended the stairs.

  But the last sentence had been overheard because at the foot of the stairs stood Gina, who blurted out, 'No man was safe that night! No man!'

  'What do you mean?' I queried, intrigued now beyond my original vague interest.

  'Gina! No, per vavore!' snapped Maria; reeling off a stream of Italian so fast I could barely pick out a word.

  Gina screeched back equally as quickly in her native tongue, her eyes flashing. Maria anxiously looked my way.

  'Go on, please tell me,' I insisted.

  Maria and Gina exchanged quick glances. Maria coughed and launched into an explanation of sorts.

  'Well, Gina's son, Bernardo, was very interested in Kate. That is all. He spent some time with her that evening and Gina was not happy about it. She thinks that Nardo had eyes for only Kate at the party and, as a result, almost ignored the girl he is supposed to be marrying.' Maria glanced surreptitiously at Gina, who glared back at her. 'The engagement is now broken off and the marriage will not take place,' explained Maria, as a further deluge of Italian erupted from Gina's lips. Luigi's name was also mentioned.

  'So that's all this is about, is it?' I felt exasperated and rose to leave. 'I'm sorry Gina, but the love affair between Bernardo and his fiancée can't have been very sound in the first place for a mild flirtation at a party to break it up so easily. It is very unlikely, I think, that Kate took advantage of your son. If Bernardo chose to risk ruining his relationship with his fiancée, well then it was his own doing, not Kate's.' I turned to go. 'Excuse me, I must shower and dress for dinner.'

  Further angry looks then passed between the two women as Maria held her hand up to stop Gina continuing. I was relieved the woman had ceased ranting on. In full Italian flow, she had an unattractive piercing resonance to her voice.

  I went upstairs, angry at Gina's unreasonable vindictiveness towards Kate. Kate was madly in love with Oliver and I hardly imagined that anything much could have happened between her and Bernardo, other than what the boy must have fabricated in his own mind. Bernardo was just twenty-one and far too young for Kate's taste. Vito was another matter; he was an attractive older man and far more likely to be in Kate's league as far as men were concerned. Ah, probably Gina believed Kate had also flirted with Vito!

  Oh, I couldn't be bothered with it any more. I decided that if I was to enjoy my last couple of days in Zermatt, I would be wise not to discuss Kate any more, particularly with Gina.

  Later that evening, wrapped up in fur coats and boots, we walked slowly (because of Maria's crutches) to a nearby bar to meet friends for drinks. The warm, cordial, boozy après ski ambience helped to cheer us up because the atmosphere over dinner had still been strained. Gina's mood had percolated through to me
enough to risk spoiling the rest of my holiday. I therefore did not want it to continue.

  A few folk were there whom I'd previously met with Luigi. But Maria's friends were a good deal younger and I now found I could relate to them better; they were also more fun.

  Therefore, when we finally made our way back to the chalet at around midnight, giggling and slithering in the snow ruts, we were all on good terms again, as well as a little tipsy.

  But the icy cold air had given me a slight headache so I excused myself and staggered upstairs to collapse on my bed, leaving Maria and Gina downstairs to enjoy a final nightcap.

  I must have been asleep about half an hour when I wakened to hear highly charged voices again. It was Maria and Gina screeching at each other. I crept to my door and opened it slightly. It was all very emotional, garbled Italian, none of which I could interpret quickly enough to properly understand, apart from the odd word. Nardo, Luigi and Vito were repeatedly mentioned; also reference to Kate's camera, which I knew was Italian for room. Gina also kept shrieking 'Beech! Beech!' – being her poor pronunciation of bitch, obviously in reference to Kate.

  What did it all mean? I closed the door again, my head spinning as I went back to bed. What the hell had gone on that night at Vito's birthday party?

  Sleep being the last thing on my mind now I tossed various notions over and over in my head. Anything was possible I supposed, reminding myself how easily things had come about between Oliver and me, the memory of which I hardly dared think about any more. On the other hand, if Kate had been playing around then this was evidently the true reason for Gina’s extreme dislike of her.

  Painfully aware of my own infidelity again, I concluded that if anyone had been misbehaving with Kate that night in Sicily then I would prefer not to know any more about it. But how could I silence Gina?

  CHAPTER 31

  After a fitful night's sleep, I rose at eight to find that neither Maria nor Gina were up yet. I then had a quick breakfast and prepared to go out to ski. With only one day left, I didn't intend to waste it. I hoped that, out there on the slopes, the conversation I’d overheard in the night could be erased from my mind. In any case it hadn't been clear exactly what it had all been about and I really didn't wish to hear any more. Best to pretend I'd heard nothing; which was unlikely, given all the shrieking that taken place. But it was worth a try.

  Gina found me at lunchtime on the cafe terrace. Sliding onto the bench beside me, she grabbed my arm.

  'You hear us last night, si? You angry? Is why you leave this morning without me, huh?'

  'Why should I be angry? I simply didn't want to waste good skiing time, that's all. Today is my last day, Gina.' I hoped that my casual reply would put an end to any further reference to the previous night. Unfortunately, Gina still seemed anxious to continue.

  'But you hear us last night, si?'

  'No.’ I lied. ‘I had a headache remember, so I took a pill. I must’ve slept right through.'

  Again she appeared to misunderstand my indifference.

  'You no want to hear more about your friend?'

  I stared at her impassively. But she went on telling me as best she could about how, on the night of Vito's party, she had been arguing with Bernardo. 'We argue long time, Annabel ... late into the night. I am cross with Nardo, you understand? Very cross. He spend long time with Kate, all evening. She flirt and he make much fuss of her. He make his fiancée angry also. We argue much and Nardo make me cry, so I sit long time to think about things. Later I go up to bed. As I reach the passage to my bedroom, I see a man leave Kate's room?' Gina paused, her dark, beady bright eyes staring at me.

  I sighed and waited for her to tell me it had been Bernado or Vito.

  'Luigi ... it was Luigi, Annabel. Her room, it is two doors away from me. I am not mistaken.'

  Staring at her blankly, I tried hard to maintain a calm exterior. Inside I was quaking with anger. Her determination to tell me this shattered me. Why must she hurt me this way?

  'It shock me, because I know Luigi love you very much. But Kate, I know she entice him. She bad friend to you.' Gina growled, clasping my hand.

  'It's all right Gina,' I lied, dragging my hand away. Gulping hard to control my emotions, I attempted a weak smile. 'I'm sure it was nothing. I trust Kate, and I trusted Luigi. She and Luigi were good friends. I'm sure there was nothing to it. Perhaps she had been upset about something. She does get very depressed at times. Anyway, please, enough has been said. I really don't want to hear any more.'

  ‘But, Annabel…’

  'Look, Luigi is dead.’ Quivering with pent up feelings; I went on, my head and heart thrumming as I spoke. ‘Whatever you say happened that night; I still have my wonderful memories of him. And you are right, he did love me very much, I know that, and I loved him too, deeply. We had a very special love. Kate was nothing other than a dear friend to him. Say nothing more, please! Now, if you'll excuse me...'

  I rose abruptly and, putting on my gloves, I grabbed my skis and left, disappearing into a group of skiers heading for the lift and the higher slopes. I needed to get as far away from her as possible.

  Skiing for well over an hour, I filled my lungs with exhilarating mountain air; powdered snow whooshing up, exploding all around me; purging me of much of the anger and pain Gina had inflicted on me.

  Not all of it was exactly her doing though. Some of the pain was of my own volition. I had no right to feel aggrieved at Gina. All this anger inside me was really because I felt guilty myself for having betrayed my precious Luigi? How could I judge anyone else, least of all Luigi? In the depths of my heart I knew Luigi had loved only me, and I him.

  I had no wish to know why he'd been in Kate's room that night. I'd only Gina's word about that anyway. I would not accept that anything had gone on between Kate and him: it was all I could do. One thing had changed though, I now saw Kate much in the same way as Gina did; as a temptress.

  I now believed she had been to blame for Luigi's death after all. She had tempted him into that car that fatal morning and for that I could not forgive her. I’d come off worse from it all too. Kate still had Oliver and soon she would him bear his child, the one thing I could never do. Hatred now welled up in me towards her.

  *

  Back in England, I decided to visit Kate in hospital. With only about three weeks to go, she was now permanently ensconced in Queen Charlotte’s to await the baby's birth. I wasn't sure if I could go through with it, but if nothing else, I wanted in some way to let her know that from things that had now come to light through talking with Luigi's family, I now felt she had been responsible for his death. Why shouldn’t her conscience battle with it for a bit longer, I thought bitterly? She may think it’s all forgotten but she's not entirely off the hook yet.

  But, once again, fate took a bizarre hand in things...

  As I arrived on her ward, the sister in charge informed me that I couldn't see her because she'd gone into early labour. Due to a few complications she was now being prepared for a caesarean section. Oliver had arrived earlier and was already in with her. No one else could see her for now.

  'Then I'll call to see her and the baby tomorrow. Please give her these.' I handed her my bunch of mixed freesias. 'I hope everything's all right?'

  'Oh yes, she's just extremely weak, that's all. Best to do a c-section in these cases,' she said, bustling off.

  Pregnancy and childbirth were alien things to me. I knew so little about any of it, and with all my other mixed up feelings it was hurting me even more now that the birth of Kate’s child was imminent. All the way home in the taxi I battled with my emotions, mentally cursing Kate her ability to have a baby when I couldn't.

  First thing next morning, I telephoned Oliver. There was no reply. I tried again later. It rang and rang. Eventually Oliver's voice answered. He sounded exhausted.

  'Well then, tell me the news! Boy or girl?' I chivvied. 'How's Kate?'

  There was an uneasy pause. I then heard several quivering sobs
before Oliver's voice said softly. 'Kate's dead, Annabel. She’s dead…'

  I opened my mouth but no words came out.

  'Wh...at?' I finally mustered. 'My God! No!'

  Who could have ever anticipated such a thing happening? I knew Kate was not particularly healthy, that she'd been anaemic as well as everything else during her pregnancy. However, the idea of her dying giving birth had never entered my head. I'd even cursed her to hell and back last evening, but not for this to happen!

  As the tragic news began to sink in, I could barely think what to say to Oliver: words always seeming so futile when tragedy suddenly strikes in such a way. I could hear him sobbing uncontrollably at the other end. Although I was desperate to know what had gone wrong, I couldn't bring myself to ask. He was obviously in an inconsolable state that I felt incapable of expressing any true emotions to him; the telephone was far too impersonal for such things.

  'Oliver,' I said, trying to catch a few seconds between sobs, ‘would you like me to come over? I can easily slip away and obviously you'll not be going into your office. Say if you'd prefer to be alone but it might do you good to talk about it to someone. Unless, of course, you already have someone with you?'

  He cleared his throat, blew his nose and took a long deep breath. 'No, no, I'm alone. I only got back from the hospital a short while ago.' His voice quavered again. 'You know, it just won't sink in, what's happened, I mean, loads of women have Caesareans births, don't they?' He paused and I was about to speak, but he continued, 'Yes, I'd like that. Please come over. You're the one person I think I can talk to right now.'

  'Good,' I said. 'I'll be over as soon...'

  'I've a daughter, by the way. That's not sunk in yet either,' he said.

  So much talk of Kate… of course we'd not spoken about the baby yet. Immediately, mention of the infant stabbed at my heart.